IN MEMORIAM:  Virginia Mae Ethington, 95;

From One-Room School To Nursing Career

CHERRY VALLEY – Virginia Mae (Oliver) Ethington, 95, who rose from a one-room schoolhouse to Syracuse University and a nursing career, passed away Thursday, July 12, 2018 at Centers Health Care in Cooperstown.

Born on Feb. 13, 1923, in Summit, she was the daughter of James and Hilda (Sperbeck) Oliver.

She attended the one-room schoolhouse on the family’s property for her early education, which is now at the Old Stone Fort in Schoharie, and graduated from Richmondville Central School in 1941.  She attended the Amsterdam Memorial School of Nursing graduating in 1944 as an RN.  She served two years in the Cadet Corps during World War II.  After World War II, she attended Syracuse University on a Public Health Scholarship.  She married Wendell Ethington and spent the next 36 ½ years employed by Sharon Springs School District as the nurse, attendance officer, and health teacher.

Virginia enjoyed gardening and her pets.  She was a member of the Sharon Springs American Legion Auxiliary Post 1269, Cherry Valley Homemakers, the Cherry Valley United Methodist Church, and acted as a hostess as the Cherry Valley Historical Assoc. for a number of years.

Virginia was predeceased by her husband, Wendell Ethington, her parents James and Hilda Oliver, and a sister June Bunney.

Survivors include her son, Brian Ethington and wife Susan of Cherry Valley, granddaughter Kerry Rodriguez and husband Edward of Queensbury, grandson Matthew Ethington of Juneau, Alaska, and great-grandchildren Elyse and Evelyn Rodriguez of Queensbury.

The family would like to thank the staff in the Bassett Oncology department and Centers at Cooperstown staff for their years of care.

Memorial contributions may be made in Virginia’s name to the Cherry Valley Methodist Church.

Friends may call from five pm to seven pm on Tuesday, July 17 at Ottman Funeral Home 22 Church St. Cherry Valley, NY.  A funeral service officiated by Pastor Theresa Grescheck and Rev. William Mudge will be held on Wednesday, July 18 at 4pm in the Cherry Valley United Methodist Church. Burial will follow the funeral service at the Cherry Valley Cemetery.

To send online condolences visit www.ottmanfuneralhome.com  Arrangements were entrusted to the Ottman Funeral Home, Cherry Valley, NY.